Deck winches......Mono or Braid

[Vindicator]

Due to a broken collarbone I have recently bought a deck winch so that I can get back out fishing while it recovers. I run braid on all my reels and was wondering what to put on the deck winch. What do you use?

Cheers
Kezza

[peterbo3]

I am planning to fish some deep spots (200m) off Brisbane. I have loaded my winch with 80lb braid on a mono backing. I have added about 30m of 80lb mono on top to give the braid some stretch. If you are going to fish fairly shallow water, then mono should be fine. The braid is good when the current is really moving.

[finding_time]

Basically you only have 2 choices LOW stretch mono or braid , normal mono will crush the spool. Alvey only mentioned this about 8 times on the box in the instructions and in 2 additions slips of paper when i got my reef king .

I run platypus 200lb super braid on mine as deep water was my target zone , i think 80lb would be to light for the bigger winches ( king and queen) other wise if i was using it for mainly reef it would be loaded with 200 or 300lb LOW stretch mono!


Ian

[Pridey]

I've just started to use braid on almost everything now. Unless I want a bit of stretch.

[scrubba01]

I know Alvey recomend low stretch mono but I have found low stretch has a memory problem and you get all sorts of tangles after striking when you have the spare line to roll back on and holding a fish off the bottom with the other hand. We have run normal 100 pound mono on ours for 15 years and had no problems with it crushing the reel. Normally fish down too about 120m.

If you are planning to use it for the deep water stuff 200m + then I would look at the 200 pound braid. The thinner more supple braid does tend to get out from under the overun bars and around the handle more often this is why I would go mono if not doing the deep water.

Ps Kezza once you get a deck winch you will be hooked mate you'll be using it for all bottom bashing up to about 30m.

[Vindicator]

I was leaning towards braid. Once this shoulder is healed I would like to head out wide to the shelf and target some deep dwellers so I would be looking at braid anyway but interesting to hear peoples opinions.

Cheers
Kezza

[scrubba01]

The other thing with braid you have to watch out for is cuts. I ended with a cut from 100 pound mono on the weekend trying to hold an AJ off the bottom, even though we use a bit of bike tube on the striking finger for protection you still end up with the odd cut and burn.

On another note Kezza I purchased mine from Bluewater Tackle in WA (online) they were a lot cheaper than I could find them for around here. Quick turnaround too. We have also puchased a couple off Ebay for good prices.

[snelly1971]

Due to a broken collarbone I have recently bought a deck winch so that I can get back out fishing while it recovers. I run braid on all my reels and was wondering what to put on the deck winch. What do you use?

Cheers
Kezza

I was told by commercial fisherman to never use Mono on Alvey Deck Winches. The reason being is that if you do catch a decent size fish , then the mono is wound back on really tight onto the spool and when this does eventually dry ,it can, and sometimes does expand so much that it busts the spools on these winches. I dont own one , Just that i have heard of it happening down this way . Maybe its just , that you`s Northern Guys , dont catch anything really decent in size , for this to happen up there.

Mick

[Vindicator]

Hey Mick, you've been quiet of late. Haven't seen any of those posts with the great hauls you usually do. Yeah we only fish for babies up here, too much bloody hard work pulling up fish bigger than 2 lb lol.

Cheers
Kezza

[snelly1971]

Hey Mick, you've been quiet of late. Haven't seen any of those posts with the great hauls you usually do. Yeah we only fish for babies up here, too much bloody hard work pulling up fish bigger than 2 lb lol.

Cheers
Kezza

www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=141051

And hopefully there will be another trip on Wed, if weather permits.

Mick

[Az]

braid with a nice long mono leader